Warmer Weather Means More Pedestrians – Pedestrian Safety 

As the weather warms up and more people head outdoors and start traveling by foot, the risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident increases. Fortunately, there are things that both drivers and pedestrians can do to reduce the risk of an accident. 

Consider the following information about pedestrian accident statistics in Mississippi, what you should know about pedestrian right-of-way laws, and things that you can do to reduce the risk of an accident, whether you’re walking or driving. 

Mississippi Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Being a pedestrian in the state of Mississippi isn’t always safe. Indeed, in 2019, Mississippi ranked 12th in the nation for state pedestrian fatality rates, with 65 pedestrian deaths reported and a pedestrian fatality rate of 2.18 per 100,000 population (compare that to Vermont, 50th in the nation with three pedestrian deaths and a pedestrian fatality rate of .48 per 100,000 population). 

In recent years, things haven’t changed much. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports 38 pedestrian deaths for January through June for the state for 2020, and 45 for 2021—a seven-person increase. As the weather warms up, more pedestrians tend to be on the roads. What’s more, more drivers may be on the road this summer as people take road trips and return to the office. Both of these factors could increase the risk of pedestrian accidents. 

What Does the Law Say About Pedestrian Right-of-Way?

Understanding the law for safe pedestrian crossings is one of the first parts of preventing pedestrian accidents. In Mississippi, vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks when traffic controls indicate that pedestrians have the right of way or when no traffic controls are present (e.g., a crosswalk at a four-way stop intersection). However, pedestrians are required to yield to vehicles when the pedestrian is crossing the roadway at any point other than a marked crosswalk and when pedestrians are crossing in a crosswalk, but traffic control signals indicate that the pedestrian should not cross. 

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

If you’re acting as a pedestrian this summer—which you surely will be at some point in time—it’s important to understand best practices for staying safe and avoiding a collision. Some tips for reducing the risk of being involved in an accident include:

• Put away distractions. Since the ubiquity of handheld mobile devices and on-the-go music, pedestrian accidents have become more common, likely because pedestrians are looking down at their phones or can’t hear oncoming traffic with a podcast or music in their ears. One of the safest things that you can do as a pedestrian to reduce your risk of a collision is to put away all distractions so that your eyes can see everything around you and your ears can hear any oncoming vehicles. 
• Stay on sidewalks. If sidewalks are available, you need to be using them. If sidewalks are not available and you have to walk, you should always walk facing oncoming traffic. 
• Cross at a crosswalk. When crossing, always use a crosswalk. It is against the law to cross outside of the crosswalk when a crosswalk is available. When crossing, be sure that you have the right-of-way before proceeding. Do not assume that just because there is a crosswalk, you can proceed. If you are at an intersection with traffic lights, you must wait until you have a green and oncoming traffic has a red. 
• Make eye contact with drivers. Even if you know you have the right-of-way, it’s a smart idea to make eye contact with drivers before you proceed into a vehicle’s path. Making eye contact is an easy way to help prevent a crash by ensuring that a driver sees you. 

• Walk, don’t run, when crossing. Even if you’re out for a jog, it’s a smart idea to walk rather than run when crossing at an intersection. Walking reduces the risk of falling. 

Safety Advice for Drivers

As a driver, you have a duty to pay attention to your surroundings and do your part to reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident. Here are some tips to keep everyone safe:

• Slow your speed when walkers are out. Even if you’re going the speed limit, there’s no reason to not slow your speed when you notice pedestrians out, especially if pedestrians are walking in the roadway. Be courteous.

• Don’t assume a walker will stop. You might assume that because you have the right-of-way, a walker or jogger will yield to your vehicle. Always be prepared to stop even if the light is signaling that you can proceed.

• Put away your cellphone. Texting while driving or using a cellphone for other purposes is an easy way to divert your attention from the road and increase the risk of a collision. 

Stay Safe This Summer

With everyone paying attention to safety, we can lower the number of pedestrian accidents in our state. Whether you’re walking or driving, take care to do your part!